Straw-stacker.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

J; K. WHITE. STRAW STAGKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY as. 1902.

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'No. 734,027. v

PATENTBD JULY 21,1903, J. K. WHITE. STRAW STAGKER. APPLIGATIO'H IILED MAY 23. 1902.

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J. K. WHITE; STRAW 'STAGKER.

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Patented July 21, 1903.

PATENT ()FFIcE.

7 JAMES K. WHITE, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO.

-STRAW-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 734,027, dated July 21, 1903. Application filed May 23, 190;. Serial No. 108,689. No mod l-1 T0 ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES K. WHITE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mansfield, Richland county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw-Stackers; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to straw-stackers; and it has for its object to improve the same in many respects.

To this end the important features of construction as described below contemplate the compression of the straw delivered by the separator, so that as it is carried outward by the stacker it is prevented from blowing away, and also the lateral and vertical adjustment of the outer or delivery end of this stacker, so as to accommodate it to the stack being formed.

The less important features of construction relate to an apron elevator which receives the chaff and delivers it to the stacker, means for swinging the latter laterally and automatically, means for permitting the folding of the stacker onto the machine, and the details of construction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a plan view of this stacker complete. Fig. II is a side elevation, partly in section and showing in dotted lines how the stacker may be folded. Fig. III is a detail in plan of the swinging mechanism. Fig. IV is an elevation of the inner end of the stacker. Fig. V is a cross-section through the main joint. Fig. VI is anouter end view. Fig. VII is a bottom plan view. Fig. VIII is a perspec. tive detail of a modification. perspective view of the under side of the hinge in the stacker, showing the latter in a position wherein the parts are deflected from a horizontal line.

The numeral 1 designates the grain-separator as a whole, and 2 is the shoe which delivers the chaff, as is well known.

3 is an apron lead over suitable rollers, so that it shall form a table standingalways be-' neath the shoe, and 4 is a second apron extending upward from the outer end of this table to'the stacker proper. These aprons to describe.

Fig. IX is a where they move upward contact with each other, and thus carry the straw between them, and constitute an elevator which raises it from the table into the inner end of the stacker. Therein the apron 3 passes over a roller and moves outward to what I call the F main hinge, where it passes over another roller in the floor of the stacker and is lead downward to the point of starting. This apron receives motion from the driving mechanism described below, and it communicates its motion to the companion apron 4.

The driving mechanism consists of a powerwheel 10, to which a belt is applied and which is fast on a main shaft 11, journaled in a suitable framework, which it is not necessary At a proper point this shaft carries one of the rollers 9, over which the apron 3 passes, as seen in Fig. 11. The shaft also drives the oscillating mechanism hereinafter described. The framework of the stacker is supported on this shaft, and hence when the stacker is raised and lowered it readilyturns about said shaft as a center. Near its opposite ends the shaft is provided with beveled gears 12, meshing with other gears 13 on upright shafts 14, and each of the latter has two drive-pulleys 15, (or a single upright roller,) over which the compressing-aprons 16 move.

As seen in Fig. I, these aprons converge out-,

ward tothe line of the main hinge. Here they pass over idlers 17, beyond which they move outward in substantially parallel lines along the edges of the stacker to its outer end. At the latter point they pass over other idlers 18, each apron moving outward along its inner side and inward along its outer side and standing ever in an upright position. As best seen in Fig. V, the idlers 17 at the line of the main hinge are mounted on two upright rods 19, and the lower ends of theserods are connected with telescopic members 20 and 21, which are drawn normally toward each other by a spring 22. This same construction prevails with respect to the support for the outer idlers 18. However, as the stacker swings at the line of the main hinge, as described below, it is necessary to use at this point other idlers, so as to keep the aprons l6 always in place no matter at what angle to the separator the stac r may stand. Just outside of each rod 19 I there rovide another upright rod 23, carrying idlers (or a single upright roller) 24, standing against the outer face of the outer side of the apron 16. I also preferably extend the upper end of each rod 19 inward, as at 25, over the top of the apron and then downward and here provide it with an additional idler 26, which stands against the inner face of the inner side of the apron 16. The various idlers and their shafts may be protected from dust by shields 27, as shown in the drawings. The apron 16 may be a plain canvas belt, although I prefer to make it in top and bottom strips connected by upright slats which are slightly spaced from each other, and between the drive-pulleys and the idlers 17 the aprons may move between guides 28, as seen in Fig. I. 29 designates the side boards of the stackerframe, which latter it will not be necessary to describe. Each side board stands between the two sides of its apron 16 and extends from a point just inside the outer idlers 18 to a point just outside the inner idlers 17, where it is pivoted, as at 30, on the upright rod 19, which accounts for my preferring to use two spaced idlers 17 on this rod, so that the side board can be pivoted thereto between them.

Referring now to Fig. VII, 31 is a framework at the inner end of this stacker, and 32 is its floor, which has a suitable opening to contain the roller over which passes the apron 3. Pivoted to this framework, as at 33, is a plate 34, which supports what I shall call the keel 35, that constitutes the'substructure of the body of the stacker, and upon this keel is supported the stacker-floor 36. At opposite ends of the keel are located idlers or rollers 37, over which moves an apron 38, constituting the bottom of the body portion of the stacker, as best seen in Fig. I, and given its outward movement by the straw which is carried along by the side aprons 16. The side boards 29 carry at their lower edges Wings 39, which extend inward over and rest upon the floor 36, and over these wings moves the upper side of the apron 38. It will be understood that the springs 22 above mentioned press the sides of the stacker-body normally inward. The pivot 33 between the keel 35 and framework 31 is in the transverse plane of the idlers 17 and the upright pivots 30 between the side boards 29 and the rods 19, and this permits the swinging of the body of the stacker without interfering with the movements of the belts or aprons. A plate projects from the apron 3 outward over the roller and the inner end of the apron 38 to shield all parts from becoming clogged by chalit' or straw.

Just outside of or beyond the line of the main hinge I preferably locate a second hinge to permit the stacker to be folded, as seen in dotted lines, Fig. II. This folding hinge comprises a hinge 41 in the keel 35, a break 36 in the fioor 36, a break 42 opposite to it in each of the wings 39, and a pivot at 43 opposite to it in each of the side boards 29, and when the stacker is folded upward it will be clear that the bottom apron 38 can readily fold with it, and the side aprons 16 can also fold, because this hinge-line is below their lower edges. In order that the stacker when folded onto the separator may not fall with too great a jar, I provide a tension device consisting of aspring 44, connecting two depending studsone (numbered 45) being located beneath the framework 31 and the other (numbered 46) being located beneath the keel 35 beyond its hinge 41 and both studs depending a suificient distance to break the fall of the stacker. In order that when the stacker is distended the two parts of its keel may stand in alinement, I provide a third stud 47 beneath the keel 35 and with which the outer stud 46 contacts, as best seen in Fig. II, whereby these two studs act in the nature of a knuckle.

The swinging mechanism (best seen in Fig. III) preferably consists of a worm 50 on the main shaft 11, which worm engages a worm- Wheel 51. Thelatter is provided with cranks 52, to which are attached ropes 53, that lead over suitable pulleys 54 and are connected with the side boards 29 just inside the line of the hinge 41. As the main shaft rotates the cranks of the worm-wheel operate through these ropes to swing the body of the stacker slowly from side to side, whereby its outer or delivery end is moved over an area depending upon the length of the body and the length of said cranks.

The elevating mechanism consists of a curved rack-bar 60, pivoted to the framework 31 and passing over a cog-wheel 62, having a crank-handle 63 and a suitable pawl 64. By turning this crank the rack-bar raises or lowers the framework around its pivotal support, which is the main shaft.

In Fig. VIII, I have shown a slight modification in that I herein illustrate converging supports for the inner portions of the side belts 16 rather than mounting them directly upon the floor 32 and using only the guides 28 to protect them. Each support has top and bottom parallel members 70, connected by a side board 71, taking the place of the guide 28. The drive-pulleys 15 are mounted on upright shafts at the inner ends of the top and bottom boards, and the several idlers are mounted on upright shafts at their outer ends, one of these shafts extending downward through the floor 32 and turning inward to form its telescopic member 20 or 21, and said members are drawn toward each other by the spring 22, as above described. In this case the supports are pivoted upon the floor on a transverse line through the inner roller of the feed-apron 3-that is to say, directly over the center of the main shaft 11.

With the above construction of parts the operation is as follows: Beginning with the stacker in its folded position its body is lifted off the separator and turned outward on the line of the hinge 41 until the knuckles 46 and 47 support it in the position shown in Fig. II, and the elevating device is manipulated to hold the outer end of the stacker at the desired distance from the ground. Power is then applied to the main drive-pulley 10, and the feed-aprons 3 and 4 take the chafi delivered from the shoe 2 and carry it upward to the floor 32 and then outward over the latter. In its outward movement the straw from the straw-shaker is compressed between the converging side aprons 16,and passing the shields 27, which protect the inner idlers, the straw travels along the body of the stacker. Its movement causes the travel of the bottom apron 38 alongwith it, and if the spring draws the outer idlers 18 together with sufficient force the straw may be still further compressed before it is delivered onto the stack. All aprons are of the endless-belt variety, so that their operation is continuous. Meanwhile the swinging mechanism causes the body of'the stacker to swing on the mainhinge line, so that its outer end movesslowly from side to side, thereby delivering the straw over a considerable area and obviating the necessity for attendants to scatter it by hand. After it has been used the stacker can obviously be folded onto the separator by hand to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. II. Thus it can be moved from place to place with the machine, although it could easily be detached.

The parts are of the desired sizes, shapes, proportions, and material, although they are preferably of light but substantial construction for obvious reasons.

I do not limit myself to the details herein set forth nor to the use of all the mechanisms described, because somemay be used without the others and considerable subtraction from and addition to the whole may be permitted the manufacturer. I have set forth only the preferable construction of each part of the machine and illustrated and described but one modification which appears to be the most important.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a framework, upright converging aprons along the side edges thereof, and means for drawing them normally toward each other; of a main hinge in the framework to permit lateral movements of its outer end, idlers supporting said aprons at this point, and means for swinging the outer portion of the stacker. 1

2. In astraw-stacker, the combination with a framework, upright converging aprons along the side edges thereof, and means for drawing them normally toward each other; of a main hinge in the framework to permit lateral movements of its outer end, idlers supporting said aprons at this point, a bottom apron mounted on horizontal rollers and forming the floor of said outer portion, means for swinging the latter laterally, and means for delivering the straw and chaff past the line of said main hinge.

3. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a framework, upright converging aprons along the side edges thereof, and means for drawing them normally toward each other; of a main hinge in the framework to permit lateral movements of its outer end, idlers supporting said aprons at this point, a bottom apron mounted on horizontal rollers and forming the floor of said outer portion, means for swinging the latter laterally, rollers in the inner portion of the framework, feed-aprons leading over them to the line of the main hinge, and a plate leading thence over the inner roller of the bottom apron.

4. In a straw-stacker, the combination with a framework, upright converging aprons along the side edges thereof, and means for drawing them normally toward .each other; of a main hinge in the framework to permit lateral movements of its outer end, idlers supporting said aprons at this point, a bottom apron mounted on horizontal rollers and forming the floor of said outer portion, means for swinging the latter laterally, rollers in the inner portion of the framework and carried byand beneath the latter, a feed-apron passing over these rollers and forming a table standing beneath the separator-shoe, and a companion apron contacting with said feedapron where it rises from said table to the inner end of the stacker.

5. In a straw-stacker, the combination with the main framework, an idle bottom apron, converging side aprons having upright drivepulleys at their inner ends, and a horizontal power-shaft at the inner end of the stacker geared to said pulleys and having a roller in line with said idle apron; of a feed-apron led over several rollers including the one last mentioned and extending from a point beneath the separator-shoe to a point adjacent the inner .end of the idle apron, and a companion apron contacting with said feed-apron to carry the short straw and chaff from the shoe into the inner end of the stacker and deliver it to the apron thereof.

6. In a straw-stacker, the combination with the framework mounted at its inner end on a horizontal drive -shaft and having a main hinge in its body, means for swinging the latter laterally on the line of said hinge, converging side aprons, a bottom apron extending from said hinge-line outward, and a feedapron leading to the inner end of said bottom apron; of a rack-bar and crank mechanism connected with the framework just inside the line of said hinge, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a straw-stacker, thecombination with the framework mounted at its inner end on a horizontal main shaft, converging side aprons thereon driven by said shaft, a bottom apron therein, means for raising and lowering the framework, and a main hinge in the latter to ICO permit lateral swing thereof; of a worm on the main shaft, a worm-wheel driven thereby and having cranks, and ropes leading from said cranks over pulleys to the framework beyond the line of said hinge.

8. In a straw-stacker, the combination with the converging side aprons, springs pressing them normally toward each other, and driving means for moving their inner sides simultaneously outward along the stacker; of a framework supporting these aprons, an idle bottom apron movingoverrollers in the framework and having motion communicated to its upper side by the compressed straw traveling thereon, and means for delivering the straw to the inner ends of the aprons.

9. In astraw-stacker, the combination with the main framework pivotally mounted at its inner end on a horizontal shaft, a main hinge in this framework to permit lateral swing thereof, means for producing such swing, a second hinge therein to permit vertical folding, and mechanism attached to the framework at a point between these hinges for elevating and depressing the outer portion thereof; of upright side aprons converging to the line of the main hinge and extending thence outward beyond the second hinge, means for drawing these aprons normally toward each other, feed mechanism delivering at the line of the main hinge, a bottom apron leading from this point outward past said second hinge, and means for driving the various aprons.

10. Inastraw-stacker,the combination with a framework having a floor, a bottom apron moving over said floor, and upright drive-pulleys at the inner end of the framework and spaced from the edges of said apron; of a hinge in said framework for permitting lateral oscillation, idlers mounted on upright shafts on the line of said hinge at and near each edge of said bottom apron, other idlers at the outer end of the framework, springs pressing all the idlers normally inward, and at each side an upright apron moving over the drive-pulleys and leading thence between the idlers at the hinge -line and outward around said outer idlers.

11. In astraw-stacker,the combination with a framework having a floor, upright converging aprons at each side of the framework above said floor, and means for driving them; of idlers between the outer and inner sides of the aprons, upright rods on which the idlers are journaled, said rods passing downward and thence inward into telescopic members, and springs drawing these members normally toward each other.

12. Inastraw-stacker,the combination with a framework having a floor provided with openings, upright converging aprons at each side of the framework above said floor, and means for driving them of idlers between the outer and inner sides of the aprons, upright rods on which the idlers are journaled, the upper ends thereof being bent over inward,

other idlers journaled on their inner ends and bearing against the inner faces of the inner sides of the aprons, said rods passing downward through said opening and thence inward into telescopic members, and springs drawing these members normally toward each other.

13. Inastraw-stacker,the combination with a framework having a floor provided with openings, upright converging aprons at each side of the framework above said floor, and means for driving them of idlers between the outer and inner sides of the aprons, upright rods on which the idlers are journaled, the upper ends thereof being bent over inward, other idlers journaled on their inner ends and bearing against the inner faces of the inner sides of the aprons, other upright rods supporting idlers at the out-er faces of the outer sides of the aprons, said rods passing downward through said opening and thence inward into members, and springs drawing these members normally toward each other.

14:. In astraw-stacker,the combination with the main framework, the keel connected therewith, floors for these members provided with openings, and a bottom apron moving over rollers located within said openings; of upright rods supported by the main framework and having spaced idlers, side boards pivoted on said rods between the idlers thereof and having wings extending over the keelfloor, upright idlers at the outer ends of said side boards, means for drawing all idlers toward each other, upright drive-pulleys at the inner end of the main framework, and converging aprons moving over these pulleys, past the intermediate idlers, and around the outer idlers.

15. Inastraw-stacker,the combination with the main framework having a plate at its outer end, the keel pivoted to said framework beneath the plate so as to permit horizontal oscillation, and floors for the main framework and keel; of upright rods supported by the main framework in line with said pivot and having spaced idlers, side boards pivoted on said rods between the idlers thereof and having wings extending over the keel-floor, upright idlers at the outer ends of said side boards, means for drawing all idlers toward each other, upright drive-pulleys at the inner end of the main framework, and converging aprons moving over these pulleys, past the intermediate idlers, and aroundthe outer idlers.

16. In a straw-stacker,the combination with the main framework, the keel pivoted to said framework so as to permit horizontal oscillation, a horizontal hinge in said keel beyond said pivot so as to permit vertical folding, and floors for the main framework and keel; of upright rods supported by the main framework in line with said pivot and having spaced idlers, side boards pivoted on said rods between the idlers thereof and themselves having pivots opposite said horizontal hinge, wings on said side boards beyond their pivots and extending inward over the kee1- floor, upright idlers at the outer ends of said side boards, means for drawing all idlers toward-each other, upright drive-pulleys at the inner end of the main framework, and converging aprons moving over these pulleys, past the intermediate idlers, and around the outer idlers.

17. In astraw-stacker,the combination with the main framework having a floor, the keel connected with said framework and itself having a floor, and inwardly-pressed side boards standing at the edges of said keel-floor; of upright shafts at the inner corners of the main floor, drive-pulleys fast on these shafts, two supports each comprising top and bottom members pivoted on these shafts and connected by an upright side board,idlers in the outer end of each support, connections between the idler-axes and the side boards of the keel, other idlers at the outer ends of said latter side boards, means for drawing all idlers toward each other in pairs, and endless aprons moving around the drive-pulleys, past the intermediate idlers, and around the outer idlers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this 15th day of May, 

